We arrived in Ketchikan to get our first glimpse of the impact of the large cruise ships. There were 4 in port at the same time which essentially doubles the population of the town. The channel in front of Ketchikan was as busy as a highway with fishing boats, pleasure boats, cruise ships, and float planes by the dozens. The airport is across the channel and you have to get there by ferry, dinghy or float plane. We spent yesterday doing all our errands – grocery shopping, marine supply store, laundry, cleaning. It all takes on a new meaning when you don’t have a car and you don’t know the area, but it also makes it exciting to see new places not just as a tourist, but as if we lived here.